Kansas City man charged with murder in police-chase child death

Kansas City, Kan.  A Kansas City, Kan., man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of an 8-year-old girl who was in a minivan the man crashed into while fleeing from police.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome Gorman on Friday charged 27-year-old Tyrone Murphy Jr. in the death of Jasmine Rodriguez. She was killed Wednesday when Murphy’s car collided with a minivan her mother was driving.

Murphy also was charged with possession of cocaine, eluding a police officer and three counts of aggravated battery for injuries to Jasmine’s mom and two of Jasmine’s siblings, ages 9 and 6.

Murphy was being held on $1 million bond in the Wyandotte County jail. Gorman’s office says he did not have an attorney as of Friday afternoon.